The company Orlen Synthos Green Energy has formally requested the Ministry of Energy to admit the BWRX-300 reactor technology, a boiling water reactor from GE Vernova Hitachi, to the tender for the second nuclear power plant in Poland. The applying company argues that expanding the list of technologies will strengthen the competitiveness of the procedure and allow the government to negotiate better terms. The Ministry of Energy confirmed receipt of the letter.
Formal application to the Ministry of Energy
OSGE has submitted an official application for the admission of the BWRX-300 reactor to the competitive dialogue within the Polish Nuclear Power Program.
Argument for increasing competition
The company argues that more technologies in the tender will strengthen competitiveness and allow the government to obtain optimal terms in the selected offer.
Trend towards smaller reactors
OSGE points out that the ministry is already considering smaller units, which is confirmed by the invitation to the Canadian company AtkinsRealis with its Candu 6 reactor.
Orlen Synthos Green Energy has taken a formal step to participate in the strategic tender for the construction of Poland's second nuclear power plant. In a letter addressed to the Minister of Energy, it applied for the admission of the BWRX-300 reactor technology to the competitive dialogue. In its view, including this project will strengthen the competitiveness of the entire process, and the government will gain a chance to obtain the most favorable terms in the selected offer. The Polish government's Polish Nuclear Power Program (PPEJ) assumes the construction of the first nuclear power plant at the Lubiatowo-Kopalino location using the American Westinghouse AP1000 technology. This program, announced in 2020, is a response to decades of discussion about the need to diversify energy sources and reduce dependence on coal. The decision to build a second power plant is the next stage in implementing this strategic energy policy. In its position, OSGE also points to a noticeable change in the Ministry of Energy's approach. It interprets the fact that the Canadian company AtkinsRealis was invited to the competitive dialogue, whose primary reactor model Candu 6 has a capacity below 700 MW, as a sign that the ministry is considering units with significantly lower capacity than initially assumed. „Spółka wskazuje też, że zaproszenie AtkinsRealis [...] oznacza, że ME bierze pod uwagę reaktory o znacząco mniejszej mocy niż to było wcześniej i ocenia, że skierowanie uwagi na mniejsze jednostki to krok w dobrym kierunku.” (The company also points out that the invitation to AtkinsRealis [...] means that the Ministry of Energy is considering reactors with significantly lower capacity than before and assesses that focusing attention on smaller units is a step in the right direction.) — OSGE The company emphasizes that it has the most current and verified data regarding the BWRX-300 technology. The Ministry of Energy confirmed to the PAP news agency the receipt of the letter with this application, indicating the official consideration of the matter.